f him to you. I should
hate myself if I were to do so. Of course you like him better than
anybody else?"

"I love him better than all the world besides."

"And so do I love you better than all the world besides." And as he
spoke he got up from his seat and stood before her. "I know how poor
I am, and unworthy of you; and only that you are engaged to him, I
don't suppose that I should now tell you. Of course you couldn't
accept such a one as me. But I have loved you ever since you
remember; and now that you are going to be his wife, I cannot but
tell you that it is so. You will go and live in London; but as to my
seeing you there, it will be impossible. I could not go into that
man's house."

"Oh, John."

"No, never; not if you become his wife. I have loved you as well as
he does. When Mrs Dale told me of it, I thought I should have fallen.
I went away without seeing you because I was unable to speak to you.
I made a fool of myself, and have been a fool all along. I am foolish
now to tell you this, but I cannot help it."

"You will forget it all when you meet some girl that you can really
love."

"And have I not really loved you? Well, never mind. I have said what
I came to say, and I will now go. If it ever happens that we are down
in the country together, perhaps I may see you again; but never in
London. Good-bye, Lily." And he put out his hand to her.

"And won't you stay for mamma?" she said.

"No. Give her my love, and to Bell. They understand all about it.
They will know why I have gone. If ever you should want anybody to do
anything for you, remember that I will do it, whatever it is." And
as he paced away from her across the lawn, the special deed in her
favour to which his mind was turned,--that one thing which he most
longed to do on her behalf,--was an act of corporal chastisement upon
Crosbie. If Crosbie would but ill-treat her,--ill-treat her with some
antenuptial barbarity,--and if only he could be called in to avenge
her wrongs! And as he made his way back along the road towards
Guestwick, he built up within his own bosom a castle in the air, for
her part in which Lily Dale would by no means have thanked him.

Lily when she was left alone burst into tears. She had certainly said
very little to encourage her forlorn suitor, and had so borne herself
during the interview that even Crosbie could hardly have been
dissatisfied; but now that Eames was gone her heart became very
tender towards him. Sh